Program Info

bcc_conversation_club_2024_2025.pdf

Areas Served

Course Location(s):

Course Info

Hours per week: 1.5 hours/student/week

Weeks per session: 35

Sessions per year: 35 (Mid September - end of May)

Learner Levels Served

Low Intermediate ESL learners Program offers English classes for learners who have the following capacity in English: can understand simple learned phrases and limited new phrases containing familiar vocabulary spoken slowly with frequent repetition; can ask and respond to questions using such phrases; can express basic survival needs and participate in some routine social conversations, although with some difficulty; and has some control of basic grammar; can read simple material on familiar subjects and comprehend simple and compound sentences in single or linked paragraphs containing a familiar vocabulary; can write simple notes and messages on familiar situations but lacks clarity and focus. Sentence structure lacks variety but shows some control of basic grammar (e.g., present and past tense) and consistent use of punctuation (e.g., periods, capitalization); can interpret simple directions and schedules, signs, and maps; can fill out simple forms but needs support on some documents that are not simplified; and can handle routine entry level jobs that involve some written or oral English communication but in which job tasks can be demonstrated.
High Intermediate ESL learners Program offers English classes for learners who have the following capacity in English: can understand learned phrases and short new phrases containing familiar vocabulary spoken slowly and with some repetition; can communicate basic survival needs with some help; can participate in conversation in limited social situations and use new phrases with hesitation; and relies on description and concrete terms. There is inconsistent control of more complex grammar; can read text on familiar subjects that have a simple and clear underlying structure (e.g., clear main idea, chronological order); can use context to determine meaning; can interpret actions required in specific written directions; can write simple paragraphs with main idea and supporting details on familiar topics (e.g., daily activities, personal issues) by recombining learned vocabulary and structures; and can self and peer edit for spelling and punctuation errors; can meet basic survival and social needs, can follow some simple oral and written instruction, and has some ability to communicate on the telephone on familiar subjects; can write messages and notes related to basic needs; can complete basic medical forms and job applications.
Advanced Intermediate ESL learners Program offers English classes for learners who have the following capacity in English: can understand and communicate in a variety of contexts related to daily life and work; can understand and participate in conversation on a variety of everyday subjects, including some unfamiliar vocabulary, but may need repetition or rewording; can clarify own or others’ meaning by rewording; can understand the main points of simple discussions and informational communication in familiar contexts; shows some ability to go beyond learned patterns and construct new sentences. Shows control of basic grammar but has difficulty using more complex structures; has some basic fluency of speech; can read moderately complex text related to life roles and descriptions and narratives from authentic materials on familiar subjects; uses context and word analysis skills to understand vocabulary, and uses multiple strategies to understand unfamiliar texts; can make inferences, predictions, and compare and contrast information in familiar texts; can write multi-paragraph text (e.g., organizes and develops ideas with clear introduction, body, and conclusion), using some complex grammar and a variety of sentence structures; makes some grammar and spelling errors; uses a range of vocabulary; can function independently to meet most survival needs and to use English in routine social and work situations; can communicate on the telephone on familiar subjects; understands radio and television on familiar topics; can interpret routine charts, tables and graphs and can complete forms and handle work demands that require non-technical oral and written instructions and routine interaction with the public.

Other Programs Offered